Observation:
Ms. Medeiros makes the class policies with her students, involving them in the process of determining class norms and expected behavior. The classroom policies consist of: coming to class prepared which includes bringing all your own supplies and science notebook, using the bathroom in the first/last 5 minutes, and using respectful language and behavior. These are posted clearly to all students on a blackboard. Adjacent to the classroom policies are lab protocols. The students were expected to make safety posters and sign a safety contract with parents. The posters had the format of stating the rule and then illustrating the consequences of the rule was broken. The posters were displayed throughout the room in time for back to school night, where all the policies and procedures were given to the parents, just in case some of the 8th graders forgot to share at dinner.
Students have been consistently reminded that they will not participate in any experiments or kits until the safety contract AND poster are received. Unfortantely, not all students are complying.
In order to illustrate how to think, record and reflect like a scientist, Ms. Medeiros uses science notebooks. The scientific method is reviewed as well as graphing. The students investigated potential effects of precepitation on Whooping Crane populations. There are rubrics provided and glued in the back of each student's notebook, as well as the steps of scientific inquiry and definitions.
Reflection:
I had the opportunity to not only look through the science notebooks, but I also led one period through the data analysis portion of the investigation and reporting in the notebooks. I also attended the back to school night, where Ms. Medeiros reviewed the same expectations with parents, emphasizing that several students had not handed in the safety contract or completed the poster.
From what I have seen so far, most classes are quiet and there have been no deviations from the established class norms. I graded the first quizzes and most students seem secure in the steps of the scientific method. I like the idea of including students in establishing classroom norms and the emphasis on making sure the students know how to start "living like a scientist". I think the science notebook is great, too, but I think I will use a binder and slightly different format.
Ms. Medeiros makes the class policies with her students, involving them in the process of determining class norms and expected behavior. The classroom policies consist of: coming to class prepared which includes bringing all your own supplies and science notebook, using the bathroom in the first/last 5 minutes, and using respectful language and behavior. These are posted clearly to all students on a blackboard. Adjacent to the classroom policies are lab protocols. The students were expected to make safety posters and sign a safety contract with parents. The posters had the format of stating the rule and then illustrating the consequences of the rule was broken. The posters were displayed throughout the room in time for back to school night, where all the policies and procedures were given to the parents, just in case some of the 8th graders forgot to share at dinner.
Students have been consistently reminded that they will not participate in any experiments or kits until the safety contract AND poster are received. Unfortantely, not all students are complying.
In order to illustrate how to think, record and reflect like a scientist, Ms. Medeiros uses science notebooks. The scientific method is reviewed as well as graphing. The students investigated potential effects of precepitation on Whooping Crane populations. There are rubrics provided and glued in the back of each student's notebook, as well as the steps of scientific inquiry and definitions.
Reflection:
I had the opportunity to not only look through the science notebooks, but I also led one period through the data analysis portion of the investigation and reporting in the notebooks. I also attended the back to school night, where Ms. Medeiros reviewed the same expectations with parents, emphasizing that several students had not handed in the safety contract or completed the poster.
From what I have seen so far, most classes are quiet and there have been no deviations from the established class norms. I graded the first quizzes and most students seem secure in the steps of the scientific method. I like the idea of including students in establishing classroom norms and the emphasis on making sure the students know how to start "living like a scientist". I think the science notebook is great, too, but I think I will use a binder and slightly different format.